Life-boat.



J. H. STOELT.

` LIFE BOAT. APPLICATION FILED 116.213.1901

904,372.l Patented NW1?, 190s.

@nannten attenua,

JOHN H. STOEU, U1 SEBEXV'AING, MICHIGAN.

LIFE-BOAT.

Spepication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov, l?, 908.

Application led August 23, 1.067. Serial No. 389,880.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Jol-IN H. S'xonL'r, e subject of the Emperor ofGern'reny, residet Seben/sing, in the county of Huron and State ofMichigan, have invented new und useful Improvements in Lifeoets, ofwhich the followin is e, specification.

This invention rates to an improved life boat adapted to be carried bypassenger end other vessels for emergency use in the event of shipwreck; and the invention has for its object to rovide a boat of thischaracter which sh l be simple in construction and efficient inoperation; which may be readily and safely launched; which shell be selfr' htin which, if it should be cerried vwith e oun ering vessel belowthe surface of the Water, will speedily rise to the surface; which shallbe covered over so that the occupants will be protected from theelements; which shall be rovided with means for propulsion .operablefrom the inside; und which shall possess superior advantages in point ofsimplicity, durability and general efficiency.

'With these end other ends in view which V will readily lappear as thenature of the invention is better understood, .the same consists intheimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will hereinafter be fully described and perticularly pointed outin the claims.

In the aeeompanyin drawing has been illustrated a sim le en preferredform f the invention, it eing, however, understood that no limitation isnecessarily made to the precise structural details therein. exhibitedbut that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope. of theclaims may be resorted to when desired. I

In the drawin s:--Figure 1 is n side elevetion of a life oet constructedin accordenceV with the invention. Fig. 2 is e longitudinal verticalsectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is u' vertical transverse sectionalview teken on the f lane indicated by the line 3*-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 ise detail view of the spur Wheel 7. Fig. 5 is eideteil plan view.

Correspondin parts in the several figures are denoted by like charactersof reference.

The improved life boat in its preferred form consists .of en fipproxinmMdrlcel body A which is secured suitably connected with un el'. Y memberB preferably` consisting ot a me tallic casting which is sul'licienilyEmery to cause the boat to be self righting; mid keel member beit formedwith e. down- Wurdly extendinglongitudinal rib 3 which constitutes thekeel, and with an elongated tubular passage 2 wherein the propulsionmember is mounted, es will be presently fully described. The tubularpassage Q has been iilustreted es bcing provided with a lining 3, whichmuy be interiorly polished so as to resent u smooth and iioirobstructiveenti-friction surface. The tubular tissage is provided with crosspiecesai Ording bearings Ator a slinttveerrying e plurality of propellers 6Aund carrying .else

a spur wheel t which is @contested by e. trein of gearing' 5?. with ashaft J snpui-refi for rotation inside fait tlze body ot' the boei" undhaving e bend Wheel i0 Wire.. f it may be operated for the purpose oft... emitting motion to the propeller sbr-ttt.. imssage and the liningoii the ettm vided with enlarged portiere.; il rij the cross bars 4 andto the gearing.; purpose of permitting Water to pms reely throufrh theseid passage without lfnn; fueterialy obstructed by seid cross buis andgearing. The spur Wheel 7, skeleton construction, being provided with sokee 1Q. which latter are preferably set s antingly, as will be seen inFig. 4f of the drawings,

thus transformingr thc spur Wheel into a propeller which will assist inthe propulsion of the boat.

The body A. of the bont muy be constructed in any suitable andconvenient menner of matched or iep ed lumber, end the forward portionof the ody is protected and reinforced by e. sheathing 13 of sheetmetal.

'I he rib 1 constitutes the keel which projects rearwardly of the bodyof the keel member B, as will be clearly seen in Figs, l and El, und itaffords u bearing for thc lower cxil'eniitv of the post lll curivins therudder 1:3 which letter is :lt-oommodatml in the space between the keell and 'thc stern post l through which the rudder post extends, said Thetubular moreover, ofY

rudder post being provided at its upper end with a cross bar or lever 17to the ends of which the steering lines 18 are attached; said linesbeing guided throuvh casing tubes 19 to a conveniently accessible pointwithin the body oitl the boat.

The body of the boat is provided at intervals with transverse partitions20 which not only serve to brace and reinforce the structure, but whichalso divide the body of the boat into a plurality of Water tightcoinpartmcnts 21; the partitions 20 being provided with apertures 22sufciently large to permit passengers to pass therethrough, and providedi th suitable closures 23.` The compartments of the boat are accessiblethrough hatch ways 24 in the deck or upper portion of the boat; saidhatch ways being provided with tightly fitting hatches 25 Which arepreferably constructed in such a manner as to be perfectly Water tight.The compartments of the boat are rovided with seats 26 which arereferalily arranged lengthwise, along the sides of the compartments, soas to enable the occupants to pass from one end of the boat to the otherconveniently and without discominoding each other. At the stem andat'the stern of the boat are formed air chambers 27, and air tanks 28are suitably arranged lengthwise in some of the compartmentsl for thepurpose of assisting the boat in rising to the surface of the Water inca'se it should become sublockers 29 are also provided at various lacesfor water and provisions. Deadights 30 are inserted at various places inthe sides of the boat forthe purpose of at'- fording light to theoccupants.

The operation and advantages of this invention will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing description taken in connection with thedrawings hereto annexed by those skilled in the art to which itappertains.

The improved life boat may be carried upon the deck of a vessel, or itmay be slunor from suitable davits, or it may be supporte upon asuitably constructed slide which will enable it to be readily launchedin case of einer ency. It is intended that the boat shall e constantlysupplied with water and provisions, and that the air chambers and tanksshall be kept tightly closed. In case of emergency, the passengers andcrew may enter the compartments of the boat through the hatch ways ofthe latter, the crew being instructed by previous drills how to taketheir stations and how to manipulate the boat. If time permits the boatWill be promptly launched, but if in the event of sudden disaster theboat should go down with the vessel, it is intended that it shall be.secured in such a manner that it will become detached by its ownbuoyancy, induced by the air tanks and compartments, so that it willreadil rise to the surface. The boat may be readi y steered, andpropelled either in a forward or rearward direction by proper1 rotatingthe lpro elling shaft; the propu sion of the boat lieing effectedWithout necessity of opening the hatches or exposing the occupants tothe elements. The hatches, however, may be slightly raised, atintervals, for the purpose of supplying fresh air.

The improved life boat will be manageable and etlicient undercircumstances Where boats propelled by oars and provided with sails willbe useless and unserviceable. The construction is simple; it Will befound thoroughly efficient for the purposes for which it is rovided.

aving thus described the invention, what l. In a life boat a cylindricalbody, an elongated keel member having a longitudiial tubular passageprovided at intervals with expanded portions, a propulsion member fittedin the passage and including a spur Wheel arranged in one of theexpanded portions of the passage, and cross bars constitutinfv bearingsfor the propeller shaft disposed adjacent to the expanded portions.

2. In a life boat a cylindrical body, an elongated keel member having a.longitudi- ,Y nal tubular passage, and a propulsion mem-4 inergcd.Suitably constructed water proof ber fitted in said passage, saidpropulsion member including a propeller shaft and a .spur Wheel mountedupon said shaft having' slantingly disposed spokes constitutingpropellet' blades.

3. In a life boat a cylindrical body, a keel member having an elongatedtubular passage and a rearwardly extended rib constituting a keel, astern postV connected with the cylindrical body, a rudder post extendingthrough the stern post of the cylindrical body of the boat and steppedin the rearwardly extended keel, a rudder positioned between the sternpost and the keel, and suitably guided steering lines connected with therudder ost. i

4. In a li e boat a cylindrical body having a plurality of transversepartitions provided with apertures and with closures for said apertures,seats arranged longitudinally in the compartments thus formed, airchambers nt the front and rear ends of the boat, air tanks disposedlongitudinally in the compartments of the latter, a keel memb'er con-120 nected with the cylindrical body and having a longitudinal passage,a propulsion member supported for rotation in said passage, and meansfor operating said propulsion member includinU a train of gears arrangedWithin one ofa the compartments of the boat.

5. In a life boat a. cylindrical body having up a plurality of comartments, a keel mem- Iber of material of h1 nected with the cylin alongitudinal tubular passage, aV propel shaft supported h specificgravity opnrical body and having ler for rotation in said Ipassage, andmeans for operatlng sald ro el e mcludmg o. tram of gears an a r shaftand wheel orted within one of the compartments f t e boat.

In testimon whereof I ox my signature in presence o two witnesses.

JOHN H. STOELT. Witnesses:

H. A. DURFY, JFRED KROLL.

